It’s the question always asked of both candidates and their references.

When asked, be ready with an answer that turns a weakness into a strength. Be cautious of using canned answers as interviewers have heard them all. Discussing “a weakness” can be a great conversation starter and gives an interviewer an insight into your communication skills and personality.

When interviewing and responding, state a negative and turn it into a positive.

For example, “I tend to take on too much work and have a hard time separating my personal and business life. My work requires that I work with remote employees overseas and it was often 11 p.m. and I was still on the phone.”

Be sure that the weakness you discuss is NOT a key element of the position.

If you are giving a reference for a candidate, it is appropriate to discuss how the candidate overcame a situation that could be perceived as a negative and learned from this experience.

If you’ve been laid off, grim circumstances can force you to fresh starts and new beginnings. Regardless of shifts in the current job market, you still need to make a living, even if you no longer have a corporate job. Through necessity you may decide not to return to the corporate world, but to start a firm instead.

Where are the opportunities?

Following your passion is always the beginning. What work-related activities get you jazzed and make you feel great about going to work? What do you do naturally and what would you continue to do — without getting paid? Is there a direction in which you can lean to research new opportunities?

Consider unfilled niches with which you’re familiar such as healthcare, senior citizens, babies, the green movement, and your own industry. Is there a new product or fresh service that you can provide in an existing niche? The world does not need another picture, but new artwork will always be desired.

Major shifts in the economy always signal new opportunities. We’ll always hear stories of people who make fortunes during recessions and depressions.